Foundation Genetics Overview

Foundation genetics

Video Series

Below you will find a series of videos from Tom, Matt, Jessica, and Anthony. We'll try to get more contributors in the videos as time goes. These are educational videos aimed at discussing the topics related to how genes affect each other while breeding and what results you can expect when breeding at home.

The Foundation Genetics crew introduce Foundation Genetics 1.0

The Foundation Genetics crew talking about Cold Fusion

The Foundation Genetics crew talking about the Chromatophore

The Foundation Genetics crew talking about Hypo

The Foundation Genetics crew talking about advanced morphs

The Foundation Genetics crew talking about Lilly White

The Foundation Genetics crew talking about Patient Zero

FG Crew introducing Foundation Genetics 2.0

Tiki Geckos interviews us about the Foundation Genetics 2.0 release

Special Guest on The Gecko Pod

The Gecko Pod interview

Foundation genetics book - pt-1.0

Part 1

Part one of the guide is aimed at guiding the novice through the complexities of genetics. We define terminology and then present examples as to how those terms are used to describe what we see. We use many Crested gecko examples to help explain what we see in the hobby today and how different genes affect one another to create the overall paint job of the animal. This is a living document, which means as our knowledge grows we will continue to modify the document, this information can be seen at the top with a revision number and date.

Foundation genetics book - pt-2.0-2.2

Part 2

Part two is the traits and morph guide. Once you have a good understanding of things in part 1, this morph guide will outline every gene we can control through breeding to make particular phenotypes. We will also cover how those genes combine to make the combo morphs we have in the hobby today. Finally, we cover line breeding, how it works, what a line is, and how line breeding has affected the genes over the last 20 years. Other topics addressed are misconceptions in the community to help understand why some results can be so confusing. This is a culmination of work by multiple breeders in the community that helped to define this information from 1998-current. Enjoy, have fun and ask questions but be respectful.

Foundation genetics Articles

Cappuccino Guide

The Cappuccino guide, written by RCK in collaboration with Foundation Genetics team.

Cappuccino PSA

A super cappuccino PSA.

Finding Phantom

Many users in the community, newcomers and seasoned breeders alike have trouble identifying phantom. This is a quick article written by Tom to help in identifying potential Het and Hzg animals.

Super Sable & Luwak

New details about the newest trait in the hobby and trait interactions

Anthony's video recommendations

Educational Videos

Here you will find videos Anthony feels are great for learning more about reptile genetics and more!

Lemon Frost and why the color is due to cancer.

Butterfly Wings and how structure influences the colors we see, Part 1.

Butterfly Wings and how structure influences the colors we see, Part 2.

Wondering how Chameleons and other animals get the colors they do?

Crested Geckos in the Wild 2018

Crested Geckos in the wild 2013

Crested Geckos in the wild 1996.

Leucism in the wild and how recessive traits can take years to reapear.

Types of dominance.

Multiple Allele, Heterozygous, and Polygenic trait inheritance.

Penrose's Pattern highlights how layers of color in a chromatophore could create unique coloration due to overlapping patterns.

Evidence of how Tiger or Tigering forms on Cresteds and why we see a difference in siblings. This also highlights how pinstripe and pattern can be seen as a reactant and Tiger the inhibitor.

Reptile Colors from a Biologist